KALI IODATUM (see vol. ii, p.710)
I. 3. Rabuteau found that, under a definite diet, he eliminated 325 – 372 gr. of urea daily. He then took 1 grm. of K. iod. each day, and found the urea fall to 201 – 294 gr. A similar result was obtained with the iodide of sodium, – diet in both instances continuing unchanged. (Pract., iii, 188.)
II. 21. Prof. Langston Parker records the following cases:
21 a. A surgeon, aet. 47, consulted me for certain symptoms of an old venereal taint. He had taken 10 gr. of K. iod. twice or thrice a day for 10 years. There was no wasting of testicles; he had sarcocele, clearly venereal, with a small hydrocele, on one side, on the other side testis was healthy. There was hypertrophy of the tongue, which was tender, covered with lobes or nodes, and fissured by deep cracks.
21 b. A German gentleman, who had suffered from secondary syphilis for 5 years, and had been treated by Ricord and others, was sent to me for an opinion about his tongue. He had taken large quantities of K. iod. for 4 years. The tongue was tender, swollen, lobulated, and deeply fissured.
21 c. Another patient had taken 15 gr. daily for nearly 3 years. He was emaciated and weak; his appetite was totally gone. He presented no symptoms of venereal taint, attributing his indisposition to the prolonged use of the medicine. The testicles were of full size; the tongue was affected as above.
21 d. A gentleman had suffered from constitutional syphilis for 13 years, and had taken large quantities of K. iod. for long periods. The tongue presented the appearances already described; it was in some parts hard and lobulated, in others fissured by deep cracks. The left testis was reduced to the size of a pea; the right was of full size and healthy. Virility was not impaired.
Prof. Parker has selected these cases from a mass of others establishing the same conclusions. The peculiar, almost cancerous, appearance of the tongue he believes to be due to the long – continued use of the K. iod. The 4th case is the only one in which he ever saw absorption of the testicle directly the consequence of the same cause. (Edinb. Medorrhinum Journ., 1852, p. 379.)
22. Dr. Lawrie reports the following cases:
22 a. A patient labouring under secondary syphilis received 2 1/2 gr. of K. iod. daily. After taking 3 doses he was seized during the n. with great difficulty of breathing and loss of voice. When seen in the morning he presented all the symptoms of spasmodic croup.
22 b. A patient under treatment for the sequelae of an inflammatory pulmonary attack. He had taken one half of the following mixture in the prescribed dose, when I was sent for to see him during the night: R Pot. Hydriodat. Zj; Infus. Quass., 1 lb.; solve; S. Zj bis in di. He said he had been suddenly seized with excruciating headache, which he likened to a wedge driven from between his eyes back to the base of the skull; acute pain in his eyes, with the most profuse secretion of tears I have ever witnessed; and intense pain in his side (sic, probably nose), which was swollen, and from which clear serous fluid came in a continuous stream.
22 c. Phagedaena of penis. Jan. 8th. – Patient was ordered Zss of K. iod. 3 times daily, and has now taken Zviiss; complains of pain in both eyes, hoarseness, pain in chest, cough, and slight difficulty of breathing. The eyes exhibit acute conjunctival congestion, sub – mucous infiltration, and contracted pupils, and the characters of respiration are those of subacute bronchitis. The hydriodate was immediately suspended, and on the 15th he was dismissed cured.
22 d. E. L. -, aet. 30, was admitted into the Lock Hospital May 2nd, 1840, for sinuses after buboes and secondary ulcers on thighs. She was ordered the medicine as in Case b. 31st. – A profuse papular eruption has appeared on face; sores improved. Omit med. Jan 7th. – Soon after last report eruption disappeared, and the iodide was repeated; eruption almost immediately returned, and is now profuse. Omit med. 8th. Complains of sore throat, but no redness or swelling is discoverable. 9th. – During n. was seized with acute dyspnoea and hoarseness, pain on pressing trachea, and swelling and pain (inside) of right submaxillary gland; pulse full, 103; &c. She died that n. Inspection. – The right submaxillary gland was enlarged, with incipient purulent infiltration into the surrounding cellular tissue, especially towards larynx and trachea. Mucous membrane of upper part of larynx, rima glottidis and epiglottis oedematous. Mucous membrane of trachea and bronchial tubes nearly natural; right lung posteriorly heavy and acutely congested; left similar, but less severely affected; there was no exudation of lymph from the mucous membrane of the inflamed parts. (Lond. Medorrhinum Gaz., N. S., ii, 588. 1839 – 40.)
23. a. A patient, aet. 26, was admitted into the London Hospital with a generalised skin eruption, consisting of swellings varying in size from small papules to enormous tuberous masses, some of the latter being ulcerated. The eruption attained its greatest size on the face, legs, and upper part of chest. The patient died of exhaustion a few day later. On enquiry at the hospital in which he was treated previously to being admitted into the London Hospital, it was found that he had been admitted there on account of some swelling in the groin which was diagnosed as syphilitic. There was no skin eruption at the time. Iodide of potash in 5 gr. doses was ordered, and in a short time the eruption began to appear, which was considered to confirm the diagnosis of syphilis, and on this account the iodide was increased to 10 gr. at the end of a week. Ten day later it was increased to 15 gr., and later still to 20. He continued it without intermission from July 23rd to October 9th, when mercury was substituted. The eruption had been getting worse the whole time, but as it was throughout considered to be syphilitic the specific was pressed. On careful enquiry there was no reason to suspect that the man had really had syphilis. He lived for about a fortnight after the iodide was entirely left off, but during this time no material change took place in the eruption. (Hutchinson, Archives of Surg., vol. i, No. 1.)
24. Celso Pellizzari, in a paper in the Archives of Dermatology, July, 1881, p. 263, on some phases of the pathogenetic action of K. iod., reports a case where a man, aged 30, was for some syphilitic symptoms ordered 15 gr
each evening and some mercury during the day; the later he soon left off, but he continued the iodide from March 20th to April 14th, when he became very ill and was admitted for what was supposed to be glanders. He had many large inflammatory nodular masses varying in size from that of a nut to an apple, seated in the subcutaneous cellular tissue. The nodules were round and situated under the skin, so much so that the latter did not take part originally in the morbid process. Abscesses formed, but healed slowly and left cicatrices. On omitting the iodide, the eruption departed, but recurred each time the drug was repeated. (Morrow, Drug Eruptions, New York, 1887.)
25. Besnier (Annales de Derm. et Syphilinum, 1882) had a patient, a man, aet. 40, who consulted him for an eruption on the palm of the hand which was very difficult of diagnosis, but for which he gave him two grammes of K. iod. daily. This was followed in a week by an eruption on the face and thorax of veritable tumours, varying in size from a small to a large pea. They were of a reddish coppery hue, flabby, almost fungous, and presenting punctate depressions. Incision only gave exit to blood. (A similar condition was observed in a woman, aged 65). (Ibid.)
26. Dr. Valanur observed (Journal of Cutaneous and Venereal Diseases, 1884), in a woman, aet. 49, with mitral disease, who had been given for 4 day 2 1/2 grammes of the iodide, that she was attacked with acute pain in her buttocks, thigh, calf of leg, and in the dorsal region. Then there appeared upon the parts small indurated nodules of the size of a nut, of a deep red colour, and readily appreciated by palpation. During 3 day, they developed in size, one or two attaining the volume of an egg. The iodide was repeated three times, and after each repetition the same symptoms appeared. (Ibid.)
27. Talamon (Journ. de Medorrhinum et Chir., 1885) reports the case of a woman in whom 2 1/2 grammes of the iodide produced an eruption resembling erythema nodosum. (Ibid.)
28. Hallopeau (L’Union Medical, 1885) observed the development of painful nodes in one of his patients, which was repeated every time he took the iodide of potassium. The tumours were oval in shape, reddish at the surface, and painful on pressure; they were chiefly situated over the anterior surface of the thighs. He also had iodic purpura. (Ibid.)
29. Dr. Prince Morrow himself lost a patient from iodide poisoning, where tubers were developed, but there was much more general dermatitis than in Hutchinson’s case. (Ibid.)
30. A peasant woman, aet. 48, came under treatment for nephritis Feb. 25th, 1886. It had attacked her in a subacute form 3 months previously, and had not been treated medically. Previously she had been always healthy. The urine contained much albumen, some blood, and was in moderate quantity. She had ascites, anasarca, slight swelling of hands, and there was some effusion into the pleural cavities. Digestion sluggish, anorexia, hypertrophy of heart. The dropsical symptoms subsided rapidly under the use of hydropathic packings and pilocarpin. The blood disappeared from, and the albumen diminished in, the urine, but continued in it to a certain extent. At the end of 3 weeks the state remained about the same in spite of digitalis infusion and liq. kal. acet. But up to the end of March her general health was very satisfactory. She was able to leave her bed which she had kept for 4 months, and she could enjoy the open air. When the pilocarpin began to disagree, she ceased to perspire and had violent vomiting after every dose. The packings were discontinued, and a solution of K. iod. 6.0: 200.0, a tablespoonful 4 times a day, given. March 30th. – She took 4 tablespoonfuls of the above solution, after which she had heat and some headache. Next day she took 3 spoonfuls, and then discontinued it in consequence of a severe coryza and a white pimple on the dorsum of the nose. Seen on April 1st (3rd day of taking the med.), the following condition was observed. Her previously small and pretty features were swollen and deformed. The nose was twice its normal breadth, lips swollen, eyelids closed by large oedematous overhanging swelling. From the closed lids there constantly exuded a thin, dirty pus, which dried into yellowish – brown crusts, and when the lids were forced open this matter gushed from them as in blennorrhoea neonatorum. The sight as far as could be ascertained was unaffected. The whole swollen face and the head and neck were covered with irregularly placed papulous, pustular and bullous eruptions of different forms and size. A few of the papules and pustules resembled the iodine acne. Of the bullae the smallest was lentil – sized, of dull greyish – white colour; they rose from the oedematous skin abruptly, were of a round or oval shape, some were rather reddish and more transparent like small blood blisters, filled with clear bloody or serous fluid. Some of larger size and irregular shape seemed to be caused by the confluence of several smaller ones; their contents were more turbid. The largest and most numerous of the blisters were of the size of a thumb – nail, of opaque white colour, or filled with clear reddish fluid. The former when opened discharged a drop of clear red or opaque purulent fluid; the rest of the contents consisting of a whitish – grey, greasy mass. There were other bullae in pretty large numbers on the rest of the body, especially the dorsal aspects of both hands. On the healthy skin the bullae resembled the blisters that arise on gangrenous parts. The lower extremities and back were also similarly affected. There was no pain except a little burning where the blisters were present. But not the skin only, all the mucous membranes that could be seen, as of the nose, tongue, cheeks, and fauces were also covered with whitish, prominent, pemphigus eruption. There was aphonia. Next day the state was the same. She had slept well, had several diarrhoeic stools, the last of which consisted of about 3 tablespoonfuls of pure dark blood. The eruption to – day resembled the gangrenous blisters, they had a bluish – red colour, and when opened discharged a clear or opaque fluid, and their bottom was covered with a layer of white greasy substance. The larger whitish bullae on the face were mostly open, and had assumed the form of deepish ulcerations covered with macerated flakes. An obscure systolic murmur was head at the apex of the heart which was not there before. As the sores on the sacrum began to slough, the patient was sent to the hospital. April 5th. – Passed urine and faeces involuntarily. 7th. – Appeared a little better. The bullae commencing to scab over; no new ones had appeared. Great foetor of breath. 8th. Collapse set in, and she died on the 12th. No p. m. (Wolf, Berliner Klin. Wochens., August 30th, 1886.)
Hughes was a great writer and a scholar. He actively cooperated with Dr. T.F. Allen to compile his 'Encyclopedia' and rendered immeasurable aid to Dr. Dudgeon in translating Hahnemann's 'Materia Medica Pura' into English. In 1889 he was appointed an Editor of the 'British Homoeopathic Journal' and continued in that capacity until his demise. In 1876, Dr. Hughes was appointed as the Permanent Secretary of the Organization of the International Congress of Homoeopathy Physicians in Philadelphia. He also presided over the International Congress in London.